England’s double Olympic and world champion Mo Farah has withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games due to fitness concerns, his team announced on Thursday.The 5,000 and 10,000 metres Olympic and world champion was recently laid low by illness and has decided to pull out of the Glasgow event in order to work on his fitness ahead of next month’s European Championships in Zurich. ‘I have taken the tough decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games.
I really wanted to add the Commonwealth titles to my Olympic and World Championships, but the event is coming a few weeks too soon for me as my body is telling me it’s not ready to race yet. Best wishes to my fellow athletes in Glasgow,’ Farah, 31, said in a statement released by Team England. Farah had been preparing for the Commonwealth Games in Font Romeu in southern France and he revealed that he will remain there in the build-up to the European Championships, which begin on August 12.
‘The sickness I had two weeks ago was a big setback for me. Training is getting better here in Font Romeu but I need another few weeks to get back to the level I was at in 2012 and 2013,’ he added. Farah’s withdrawal falls on the first day of competition in Glasgow and robs the event of a major draw. The Somali-born runner became a household name in Great Britain when he took gold in 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
I really wanted to add the Commonwealth titles to my Olympic and World Championships, but the event is coming a few weeks too soon for me as my body is telling me it’s not ready to race yet. Best wishes to my fellow athletes in Glasgow,’ Farah, 31, said in a statement released by Team England. Farah had been preparing for the Commonwealth Games in Font Romeu in southern France and he revealed that he will remain there in the build-up to the European Championships, which begin on August 12.
‘The sickness I had two weeks ago was a big setback for me. Training is getting better here in Font Romeu but I need another few weeks to get back to the level I was at in 2012 and 2013,’ he added. Farah’s withdrawal falls on the first day of competition in Glasgow and robs the event of a major draw. The Somali-born runner became a household name in Great Britain when he took gold in 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.